“The Multan central jail has been upgraded at a cost of Rs220 million… the amount includes a donation provided by the civil society,” Punjab Prisons Inspector General Farooq Nazeer told The Express Tribune on Monday.
He said the waiting rooms, operation theatres, medical examination rooms, dental examination rooms, surgical theatres, medicine stores and the boundary wall had been upgraded under the project.
He said X-ray machines and the telephone exchange had also been upgraded. “The waiting rooms, upgraded for Rs110 million, can now accommodate more than 500 people at a time.”
Nazeer said the jail was one of the biggest in south Punjab.
The Prisons IG said Rs50 million had been spent to improve security at the prison. “Fifty to 70 security officials equipped with latest weapons will patrol the jail at all times… they have been trained by the Pakistan Army,” he said.
Nazeer said the telephone exchange now served 30 booths. He said the jail’s administration had fixed two days per week for prisoners. “Separate hours have been set for women prisoners,” he said.
Published in The Express Tribune, February 25th, 2014.